John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. However, as I anticipated, it does not address the issue I raised. Over the past four years, Rathcoole Garda station has seen a 40% reduction in personnel. That is not in line with anything that is happening. I am failing to get an explanation as to why and if the issue can be addressed. It is not as if Rathcoole is in a part of the country that is not growing. Its population is growing rapidly along with its economic activity. The concern I have is that with only 14 gardaí stationed in Rathcoole, the operation and viability of the Garda force there is somewhat challenged. It is two or three people per unit which does not even allow the Garda station to be regularly opened. There is only one community garda. The issue I raised in the significant change in Rathcoole has not been addressed in the Minister of State’s reply.

The Minister of State stated the number of gardaí had increased by 600 in 2017. That is correct. Of those, 120 were sent to specialist units. The number of gardaí in Dublin in 2017 actually declined but the number did not decline by 40% like in Rathcoole. There is no explanation as to why an area with a growing population and economic activity has seen such a decline. It affects not only the village of Rathcoole but Citywest shopping centre, industrial estate, hotel and conference centre. That whole catchment area has seen a significant reduction in the number of gardaí who patrol it. Just four years ago there were 23 gardaí based there and before that, 26. The numbers have been significantly higher but are now down to 14. Residents are quite concerned about the future viability of the Garda station in Rathcoole. While the Minister of State gave an answer - the answer I half expected - it was of a general nature and did not specifically address the Rathcoole issue. Will he ask the Department for some sort of explanation as to why this is so out of kilter with everything else in my area?

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